Newcastle United have started their 2018-19 Premier League season with a defeat, as Rafa Benitez’s men were beaten 2-1 by Tottenham Hotspur at St James’ Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Tyneside outfit were slightly unlucky not to get anything from the game, with the hosts striking the woodwork twice in the second half.

The Newcastle fans will be relatively encouraged by the performance however and will know that against more-modest opposition the points will come.

The league opener was a chance for the Magpie fans to get their first glimpses of new players, with both Salomon Rondon and Yoshinori Muto coming off the bench.

The Japan international signed for Newcastle from Mainz in a £9.5 million deal earlier this summer and will be charged with getting the goals to fire the club towards a successful campaign in 2018-19.

The north east fans have been taking to Twitter in the aftermath of the game to give their verdict on Muto, who looked likely and technically gifted in his 15-minute cameo against Tottenham.

Newcastle will hope that their new striker can make a major impact this season, with the majority calling for Muto to start the next game – here are the best tweets.

Muto defintely showed glimpses of his ability to find space, Rondon showed gilmpses of his physicality, Kenedy is an absolute baller, Ritchie is a nutter and Lascelles is a man mountain…we will be fine #nufc

Definitely not superb today, he didn't have much influence on the game at all. But he's an important member of the squad, top scorer last season. I think in time, Muto will nudge ahead. He looks a clever player

– Kenedy and Ritchie were brilliant– Muto and Rondon showed glimpses – Confidence boost for Joselu– A brave performance worthy of a point – We're creating chances – A cracking, united turnout for the Ashley protest#NUFC ⚫️⚪️

Gareth McKnight is the editor of Ninety Minutes Online and a director of Mudcrab Media. An experienced online and print journalist, Gareth has worked for Goal.com, FourFourTwo, Soccerlens and countless other media sources over the years. He is from Northern Ireland but lives in Western Australia.

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